According to a press release, Erika Quartermaine, of Lakewood Ranch, was one of three names given to Gov. Rick Scott for consideration in filling the opening.

The other candidates are Charles P. Sniffen and Stephen Mathew Whyte.

Quartermaine is a prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office in Sarasota County.

The new judge will be sworn in March 1 and will replace retiring Judge George Brown.

+ Residents ask county to postpone land purchaseTallevast residents asked the Manatee County Commission to postpone an agenda item for its Nov. 27 meeting regarding land purchase in the community.

In an email, members of Tallevast’s Family Oriented Community United Strong group requested that purchase of the land for a county transit depot be rescheduled.

Tallevast residents are suing Lockheed Martin for personal endangerment issues after the Maryland-based advanced technology company discovered a hazardous leak at its beryllium plant property at 1600 Tallevast Road but did not inform residents.

Lockheed Martin is in the process of building a water-treatment facility to clean toxins from the community’s groundwater. The project is expected to be completed next year.